Bait casting reel and method

Abstract

A fishing reel (such as a bait casting reel) is disclosed in which the bearings for both the drive shaft and the output shaft of a speed increasing gear train are carried solely in the side cover of the reel and in which the end of the spool shaft proximate the gear train is journaled solely by the reel frame with a coupler coupling the output shaft and the spool shaft such that within a limited range, variances in axial dimensions (positions) and in angular alignment between the spool shaft and the output shaft may be readily accommodated. In another embodiment, the drive shaft, the output shaft and the spool shaft are journaled solely with respect to the reel frame. A cast control is disclosed which eliminates the need for an elongated spool shaft and which is adjustable over a wide range. A method of accommodating such variances and misalignment is also disclosed.

1 . In a fishing reel having a frame, at least one side cover adapted to be secured to said frame, a handle shaft, a drive gear rotatably driven by said handle shaft, a pinion in mesh with said drive gear, a pinion shaft, a spool shaft, and a spool carried by said spool shaft and driven by said pinion, wherein the improvement comprises: said handle shaft and said pinion shaft being carried by and being journaled solely with respect to said side cover, said spool shaft having an end proximate said pinion, said spool shaft proximate end being journaled solely with respect to said frame, and a coupler for operatively connecting said pinion shaft to said proximate end of said spool shaft so that said coupler can accommodate both axial dimensional variances and angular misalignment variances within a limited range between said pinion shaft and said spool shaft.  
   
   
       2 . In a fishing reel as set forth in  claim 1  having a handle fixedly secured to said handle shaft.  
   
   
       3 . In a fishing reel as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said handle shaft is journaled with respect to said side cover by a one-way clutch.  
   
   
       4 . In a fishing reel as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said drive gear and said pinion gear are helical gears.  
   
   
       5 . In a fishing reel as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said spool shaft has another end distal from said drive gear and said pinion, and wherein said reel further has a cast control engageable with said distal end of said spool shaft so as to apply drag to said spool during a cast, said cast control comprising a friction member engageable with said distal end of said spool shaft, a spring biasing said friction member into engagement with said spool shaft, and an adjustment member for adjustably increasing or decreasing the force said spring applies to said friction member and in turn for adjustably increasing or decreasing the force that said friction member applies to said spool shaft.  
   
   
       6 . In a fishing reel as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said adjustment member is threadably adjustable with respect to said frame.  
   
   
       7 . In a fishing reel as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said distal end of said spool shaft is beveled, and wherein said friction member has a complimentary beveled recess therein for receiving said beveled spool shaft end thereby to frictionally engage said spool shaft.  
   
   
       8 . In a fishing reel as set forth in  claim 1  having a drag assembly interposed between said spool and said drive gear such that upon applying a force above a predetermined amount on said line wound onto said spool, said drive gear is uncoupled from said handle shaft so as to permit line to be unwound from said spool.  
   
   
       9 . A fishing reel having a frame, a side cover, a spool on which a supply of line is wound, a spool shaft, a speed increasing gear train, the latter comprising a handle shaft operated by a handle, a drive gear mounted on said handle shaft, a pinion in mesh with said drive gear, a pinion shaft on which said pinion is mounted, wherein said handle shaft and said pinion shaft are journaled solely with respect to said cover, and a coupler operatively connecting said pinion shaft and a proximate end of said spool shaft so as to accommodate a range of dimensional variances and angular misalignment between said pinion shaft and said spool.  
   
   
       10 . A fishing reel as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said proximate end of said spool is journaled solely on said frame.  
   
   
       11 . A fishing reel having a frame and at least one side cover, a spool rotatably journaled with respect to said frame, a spool shaft, a handle, a gear train operatively connecting said handle and said spool shaft so that upon rotation of said handle said spool is rotated to wind line onto said reel, and a cast control for inhibiting said spool from overrunning the withdrawal of line therefrom during a cast, said cast control being located on the side of the reel opposite said handle and comprising a friction member engageable with an end of said spool shaft distal from said gear train, a cast control adjustment member, and a spring interposed between said cast control adjustment member and said friction member so that said spring biases said friction member into engagement with said distal end of said spool shaft and thus applies a desired friction force to said spool shaft.  
   
   
       12 . A fishing reel as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said friction member is held against rotation with respect to said frame.  
   
   
       13 . A fishing reel as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said distal end of said spool shaft is beveled and said friction member has a beveled bore engageable with said beveled end of said spool shaft.  
   
   
       14 . In a fishing reel having a frame, a handle shaft, a drive gear rotatably driven by said handle shaft, a pinion in mesh with said drive gear, a pinion shaft, a spool shaft, and a spool carried by said spool shaft and driven by said pinion, wherein the improvement comprises: said handle shaft and said pinion shaft being carried by and being journaled solely with respect to said frame, said spool shaft having an end proximate said pinion, said spool shaft proximate end being journaled with respect to said frame, and a coupler for operatively connecting said pinion shaft to said proximate end of said spool shaft so that said coupler can accommodate both axial dimensional variances and angular misalignment variances within a limited range between said pinion shaft and said spool shaft.  
   
   
       15 . In a fishing reel as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising a side cover enclosing the side of said frame proximate said handle.  
   
   
       16 . In fishing reel as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said spool has a spool axis and said pinion shaft has a pinion axis, and wherein said spool axis and said pinion shaft are substantially coaxial.  
   
   
       17 . In a fishing reel having a frame, at least one side cover adapted to be secured to said frame, a handle shaft, a drive gear rotatably driven by said handle shaft, a pinion in mesh with said drive gear, a pinion shaft, a spool shaft, and a spool carried by said spool shaft and driven by said pinion, wherein the improvement comprises: said handle shaft and said pinion shaft being carried by and being journaled solely with respect to said side cover, or being carried by and being journaled solely with respect to said frame, said spool shaft having an end proximate said pinion, said spool shaft proximate end being journaled solely with respect to said frame, and a coupler for operatively connecting said pinion shaft to said proximate end of said spool shaft so that said coupler can accommodate both axial dimensional variances and angular misalignment variances within a limited range between said pinion shaft and said spool shaft.  
   
   
       18 . A method of driving a spool of a fishing reel by means of a gear train having an input shaft and an output shaft, said input shaft having an input shaft axis, said output shaft having an output shaft axis, and said spool having a spool axis, said reel having a frame, where axial misalignments and dimensional variances between all of said axes are controlled only with respect to said frame, said spool being operatively connected to said gear train so as wind line onto said spool upon operation of said gear train, said spool shaft having an end proximate said gear train, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) journaling said input shaft solely with respect to said frame;    (b) journaling said output shaft solely with respect to said frame; and    (c) journaling said proximate end of said spool shaft solely with respect to said frame.    
   
   
       19 . A method of driving a spool of a fishing reel by means of a gear train having an input shaft and an output shaft, said input shaft having an input shaft axis, said output shaft having an output shaft axis, and said spool having a spool axis, said reel having a frame and a side cover, where axial misalignments and dimensional variances between of said input and output axes are controlled only with respect to said side cover, said spool having a spool shaft with one end thereof proximate said gear train being operatively connected to said gear train so as wind line onto said spool upon operation of said gear train, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) journaling said input shaft solely with respect to said side cover;    (b) journaling said output shaft solely with respect to said side cover; and    (c) journaling said proximate end of said spool shaft solely with respect to said frame; and    (d) coupling said output shaft to said proximate end of said spool so as to accommodate dimensional variances and angular misalignments between said output shaft and said spool shaft within a limited range.    
   
   
       20 . A method of driving a spool of a fishing reel by means of a gear train having an input shaft and an output shaft, said input shaft having an input shaft axis, said output shaft having an output shaft axis, and said spool having a frame, side cover, a spool axis, said reel having a frame, where axial misalignments and dimensional variances between all of said axes are controlled within a predetermined limited range, said spool being operatively connected to said gear train so as wind line onto said spool upon operation of said gear train, said spool shaft having an end proximate said gear train, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) journaling said input shaft solely with respect to said frame, or solely with respect to said side cover;    (b) journaling said output shaft solely with respect to said frame, or solely with respect to said side cover;    (c) journaling said proximate end of said spool shaft with respect to said frame; and    (d) coupling said output shaft to said spool shaft so as to accommodate axial misalignment and dimensional variances between the axes of said output shaft and said spool shaft within a limited range.